The EU must do more for better housing, demands the European Parliament. But things are already going wrong in the new special committee.
The European Parliament is calling for more action against the housing shortage and rent extortion. Housing is a human right and the EU must do more to secure it, says a new parliamentary report on the European housing crisis. However, MPs did not agree on the necessary measures. A Special committee set up at the request of the Social Democrats ended in a party dispute.
It’s about “creating or making available enough living space, especially for lower and middle income groups,” said SPD MP Gabi Bischoff. The EU must make more money available for affordable housing. In addition, the EU rules would have to be adjusted so that cities like Berlin do more against platforms like Airbnb can put a strain on the housing market.
Completely different tones come from the CDU/CSU. “Europe’s housing market suffers above all from a lack of supply,” said CSU MP Markus Ferber. “If you want affordable housing, must enable constructioninstead of complicating construction.” “An ambitious simplification package” is therefore required. The EU Commission should take care of this instead of interfering in housing policy.
Die As is so often the case, conservatives have common cause with the right-wing populists made, criticizes Tilly Metz from the Luxembourg Greens. “The conservative EPP Group wants to ensure that companies that have benefited from the housing crisis continue to line their pockets and has joined forces with the far right to advance their agenda.”
Housing costs plus 60 percent
The dispute is also likely to overshadow the plenary vote in March, in which Parliament wants to consolidate its position. The EU Commission had in December presented a plan for “affordable housing”. Since 2013, house and residential prices have risen by over 60 percent, it said. At the same time, there is no reliable data base to take action against speculation.
“A transparency register is missing,” criticizes Martin Schirdewan from the Left. In his opinion, Parliament’s final report also falls short. “Instead of looking at vacancies from the perspective of tenants, landlords continue to be protected.”
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